By Charlie Reeve
Total UK poultry meat production was 1% higher during January compared with the same month last year, totalling 198,600 tonnes.
Throughputs started the year on a high with production back in full swing with a five week month, after a seasonal lull with fewer killing days at abattoirs in December.
Broiler meat production lifted by 3.1% on the year to 185,000 tonnes in January, while boiling fowl production dropped back on the year by 14% to 4,800 tonnes.
UK broiler slaughterings in January totalled 111.5 million birds, up by 3% on the same month last year.
Average liveweights per bird at point of slaughter in England & Wales stood at 2.4kg for both broilers and boiling fowl.
Boiling fowl slaughterings, including spent hens and spent breeders, held again month on month at 3 million birds, but was down by almost 30% on the January 2024 levels.
Turkey throughputs were 29% lower on the year during January at 0.5 million birds and overall production was also back at 6,700 tonnes.
Chick placings
Broiler chick placings in the UK increased by 3.7% in January to total 110.4 million chicks.
Commercial layer chick placings continue to be higher with placings up by 28% on the year at 3.6 million chicks.
Turkey poult placings have also lifted and stood at 0.7 million chicks, up by 8.6% on the year.
Egg production
Farmgate egg prices averaged 146 pence per dozen in the UK during the final quarter of 2024.
This was a 0.9% increase on the previous quarter and up by 6% on the same quarter last year.
UK egg production was also up during the final quarter of 2024 with 254 million dozen eggs produced for human consumption, which represents a 4.2% increase year-on-year.